Lawmakers debate fire suppression, local gun ordinances

The Montana House of Representatives last week advanced legislation that would require a two-third vote majority for the Legislature to transfer funds out the state's fire suppression account.

The governor would still hold the authority to pull from the fund, as well.

Speaker of the House Greg Hertz, R-Polson, is carrying House Bill 276 and said on the House Floor during the bill's second hearing that it was proposed in response to the historic 2017 fire season that drained government funds.

"We were sitting here in 2017 with a winter much like today," Hertz said.